WEATHER

TACLOBAN CITY – Pope Francis will depart at 1PM today for Manila due to inclement weather caused by Typhoon Amang. Tacloban is currently under Signal Warning No. 2. The Pope apologized to the religious leaders as he advised them that he had to leave early.UPDATE: Pope Francis safely arrived in Manila around 2 p.m. The 78-year-old pontiff was flown back to the capital by a Philippine Airlines Airbus A320. High-ranking officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police awaited him. Members of the military and their families also welcomed the Catholic pontiff, who is on its third of a five-day state and pastoral visit to the Philippines.

WATCH: LIVE STREAMING Pope Francis Bound for Manila

Pope Francis is set to officiate a mass tomorrow, January 18 at the Quirino Grand Stand in Luneta. The said event is expected to be attended by 6 Million devotees.

MANILA, Philippines – Tropical Storm Amang, International name “ Mekkhala” has maintained its strength as it moves closer to Eastern Samar, according to PAGASA’s weather bulletin update issued at 11:00 AM today, January 17, 2015.

The center of Bagyong Amang is located at 120 km East Northeast of Borongan City, Eastern Samar as of 10:00 AM, with maximum sustained winds of 100 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 130 kph, Amang is forecasted to move Northwest at 17 kph and expected to hit the following locations:

• In the vicinity of Legaspi City by Sunday morning

• 50 km Northeast of Baler, Aurora by Monday morning

• 235 km Northeast of Aparri, Cagayan by Tuesday morning

Public storm signal #2 is raised at the following provinces:

LUZON VISAYAS

Catanduanes Northern Samar

Albay Eastern Samar

Camarines Sur Samar

Sorsogon Leyte

Masbate Biliran

Burias Island

Ticao Island

These areas will have stormy weather with heavy to intense rains. Residents along coastal areas are alerted against possibleStorm surges of less than 2 meters.

Tropical Storm Seniang continues to bring stormy weather over the Visayas and Mindanao. As of December 31, the National Risk Reduction and Management Committee has confirmed at least 53 dead due to the storm; most of them were caused by drowning, electrocution, asphyxia due to landslide, or had their house swept away by floods. 26 were also injured and eight are still missing due to ‘Seniang’.

More casualties are being reported by the LGUs to NDRRMC but the agency is still verifying. The numbers are likely to change in the next few hours.

A total of 5, 046 families were pre-emptively evacuated to 79 centers in Regions 6, 7, 10, 11, and CARAGA. A total of 117 houses were damaged by the storm. Damage to agriculture is estimated at P3.6M.

Below are the pictures sent by people from Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Capiz, Cebu, Leyte, Negros Occidental, Samar to ABS CBN News Channel of homes and roads in various provinces, which were submerged in floods. They say they have no power or water supplies.

MANILA, Philippines – Tropical StormSenianghas maintained its strength and is now moving towards Cebu, this according to PAGASA’s weather bulletin update issued at 5:00 AM today, December 30, 2014.

The center of Bagyong Seniang is located at 35 km Southeast of Mactan, Cebu City, as of 4:00 AM, with Maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph. The tropical storm is forecasted to move West Northwest at 11 kph and expected to hit the following locations:

·235 km West Northwest of Dumaguete City by Wednesday morning

·115 km South Southwest of Puerto Princesa City by Thursday morning

·450 km Southwest of Puerto Princesa City by Friday morning

Public Storm Signal Warning #2 is raised at the following Provinces:

1

1.Bohol

2.Siquijor

3.Cebu

4.Guimaras

5.Negros Oriental

6.Negros Occidental

These areas will have stormy weather with heavy to intense rains. Residents in low lying and mountainous areas are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides.

Public Storm Signal Warning #1 is raised at the following Provinces:

1.Leyte

2.Southern Leyte

3.Camotes Island

4.Iloilo

5.Antique

6.Capiz

7.Aklan

8.Camiguin

9.Surigao del Norte

10.Agusan del Norte

11.Misamis Occidental

12.Misamis Oriental

13.Zamboanga del Norte

These areas will have moderate to heavy rains with occasional gusty winds. Residents in low lying and mountainous areas are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides.

Residents in low lying and mountainous areas of the provinces with PSWS#2 and PSWS#1 are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides.

Ocean waves may reach up to 5 meters.

Fisherfolks and those with small seacrafts are advised not to venture out over the seaboards of northern and central Luzon and the eastern seaboard of southern Luzon, seaboards of Visayas and over the northern and eastern seaboards of Mindanao.

The public and the disaster risk reduction and management council concerned are advised to take appropriate actions and watch for the next bulletin to be issued at 11AM today.